The Endurance Athlete Journey
Sometimes endurance sports can be overwhelming and confusing. Understanding the nuances of training and how to stay healthy and making progress can leave you scratching your head sometimes. On top of all that, knowing how to fuel for performance and overall fitness increases the complexity of the sport even more. The Endurance Athlete Journey podcast is your guiding light on the path to success in your endurance sports journey.
The Endurance Athlete Journey
Episode 58 : Triathlon 101: A Beginner's Guide to Triathlon - Picking a Race Distance (updated)
Summary:
Coach Justin brings you the first episode of a new series called Triathlon 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Triathlon, where he tackles one of the most common—and overwhelming—questions new athletes face: What race distance should I start with? Drawing from his experience as a coach and endurance athlete, he challenges the pressure of “Ironman culture” and explains why starting shorter is often the smartest path to long-term success. This episode reframes your first triathlon as a learning experience rather than a stress test, breaking down how background, goals, lifestyle, and time commitment should influence your decision. Whether you’re coming from running, cycling, swimming, or starting from scratch, Coach Justin offers a practical, confidence-building approach to choosing a race distance that supports consistency, enjoyment, and longevity in the sport.
Takeaways:
- Your first triathlon should build confidence, momentum, and enjoyment, not overwhelm you
- Starting with the shortest appropriate distance supports long-term success and reduces burnout
- Athletic background (runner, cyclist, swimmer, or beginner) matters when choosing a race distance
- Training time and lifestyle fit are just as important as physical ability
- Swim anxiety is common and should be factored into distance selection
- Shorter races allow faster learning of skills like pacing, transitions, and nutrition
- Long-course racing is inspiring—but often inappropriate early in the journey
- Ego-driven distance choices frequently lead to injury, frustration, or quitting
- Momentum and positive race experiences fuel long-term growth
- Distance does not define legitimacy—preparation and execution do
For all things coaching, reach out:
Coach Katie: www.Fuel2Run.com
Coach Justin: www.TabulaRasaRacing.com
Podcast Email: theenduranceathletejourney@gmail.com
